How the Atlanta Braves Came to Atlanta: Key Dates, Moves, and What It Means for the City

If you live in Atlanta, visit often, or just love the Atlanta Braves, it’s natural to wonder: “When were the Atlanta Braves brought to Atlanta?” The short answer is that the team moved to Atlanta for the 1966 season, but the story of how and why they got here—and how they’ve moved around the metro area since—tells you a lot about the city itself.

Below is a clear, Atlanta-focused guide to when the Braves came to Atlanta, important milestones since then, and how their presence shapes local life today.

When Were the Braves Brought to Atlanta?

The Braves officially became the Atlanta Braves in 1966.

• They played their first regular-season game as the Atlanta Braves on April 12, 1966.
• The game was held at Atlanta Stadium, later renamed Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, located just south of downtown.

Before that, the franchise had a long history in other cities:

• Boston Braves (19th century through 1952)
• Milwaukee Braves (1953–1965)
• Atlanta Braves (1966–present)

What matters for Atlantans is that 1966 is the year Major League Baseball arrived in the city, making Atlanta the first major Southern city to host an MLB team.

Timeline of the Braves in Atlanta

Here is a simple overview of the Braves’ journey in and around Atlanta:

So when people ask, “When are the Atlanta Braves brought to Atlanta?” they’re usually referring to that 1966 relocation—the moment Atlanta became the Braves’ permanent home city.

Why Did the Braves Move to Atlanta in the First Place?

Understanding why they came is just as important as when.

In the mid-1960s:

• Atlanta was positioning itself as a growing major city of the South, investing in highways, the airport, and professional sports.
• Local leaders wanted a Major League Baseball franchise to signal that Atlanta was a national player, not just a regional city.
• The Braves ownership was looking for a new market with strong growth potential, media exposure, and a modern stadium.

Atlanta built Atlanta Stadium (later Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium) specifically to attract a team. Once the stadium was ready and arrangements were made, the Braves’ relocation from Milwaukee was finalized in time for the 1966 season.

For Atlantans, that move:

• Launched big-league sports in the city
• Helped justify major infrastructure investments
• Gave the city a team that later became deeply tied to local identity

Where Have the Braves Played in the Atlanta Area?

Even after arriving in Atlanta, the Braves’ home field has moved within the metro area. This matters if you’re trying to understand how the team fits into the city today.

Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium (1966–1996)

• Location: South of downtown Atlanta, in the Summerhill area
• Role: First home of the Atlanta Braves
• Notable: Hank Aaron’s 715th home run was hit here in 1974

This stadium was part of a broader city plan to bring and keep professional sports downtown.

Turner Field (1997–2016)

• Location: Same general area as the old stadium, south of downtown
• Originally built as the 1996 Olympic Stadium, then converted for the Braves’ use
• Helped anchor the sports district near I-75/I-85 and the Georgia State campus area

Turner Field kept the Braves within the Atlanta city limits for another two decades.

Truist Park (2017–Present)

• Location: Cumberland area in Cobb County, near the intersection of I-75 and I-285
• Technically outside the Atlanta city limits, but heavily associated with Atlanta and branded as the home of the Atlanta Braves
• Part of a larger mixed-use development known as The Battery Atlanta

While the Braves are now physically based in Cobb County, they are still understood as Atlanta’s MLB team, and most national references still call them the Atlanta Braves.

What This Means If You Live in or Visit Atlanta

Even though home games are now in Cobb County, the Braves are woven into everyday life in Atlanta:

• Downtown & Midtown: Many fans stay in these neighborhoods and travel to Truist Park for games. Hotels, restaurants, and bars often cater to Braves fans on game days.
• Public Transit Connections: While MARTA rail does not run directly to Truist Park, many Atlantans use MARTA to central points (like Arts Center or Midtown) and then connect via rideshare, shuttles, or carpools.
• Watch Spots: Sports bars across Buckhead, Midtown, Downtown, and West Midtown become unofficial “Braves hubs” during big games and postseason runs.

If you’re planning a visit to see the Braves:

• Look for lodging in Midtown, Buckhead, or Cumberland for relatively easy access to the ballpark.
• Plan your drive time carefully; I-75 and I-285 can be very congested on game days.

Quick FAQ for Atlantans and Visitors

Were the Atlanta Braves always in Atlanta?
No. The franchise existed long before it arrived here, but it became the Atlanta Braves in 1966 and has been associated with Atlanta ever since.

Are the Braves actually in Atlanta now?
The team plays its home games at Truist Park in Cobb County, just northwest of city limits, but is still officially and nationally known as the Atlanta Braves.

What year should I remember as the “Braves came to Atlanta” year?
Remember 1966. That’s when the team was brought to Atlanta and started playing as the Atlanta Braves.

What if I want to experience Braves history in Atlanta proper?
While the current stadium is outside the city, you can still:

• Visit the Summerhill neighborhood area where Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium and Turner Field once stood.
• Look for markers and tributes to Hank Aaron and the Braves’ early Atlanta years.
• Explore downtown Atlanta, where much of the city’s sports history is commemorated through murals and public art.

In practical terms, if you’re in Atlanta and wondering “When were the Braves brought to Atlanta?”, the key fact is this: the Braves became the Atlanta Braves in 1966, and their presence has helped shape Atlanta’s identity as a major sports city ever since.